Gulf of Mexico 2012 Expedition: Mission Plan

A unique down-looking view of a ROV recovery at night. The underwater glow is created by the powerful lights on the Seirios camera sled. Click image for larger view and image credit.

Jeremy Potter
Expedition CoordinatorNOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

Overview

The Gulf of Mexico has been major a geographic focus for U.S. exploration and research for decades. While the large majority of past efforts have examined relatively shallow waters, a number of agencies and organizations have worked in deep areas. The National Science Foundation, NOAA, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have easily sponsored dozens of cruises. A long-term partnership between NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management alone resulted in more than nine expeditions since 2004 (e.g., Deep Gulf Shipwrecks of World War II, Expedition to the Deep Slope, and Lophelia II). Despite these important efforts, we often overestimate our fundamental understanding of the deep sea environment.

The critical need for even basic information about deep-water habitats in the Gulf of Mexico was frequently highlighted in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident. The purpose of this expedition is to help reduce that large unknown. We will focus on water column and deep unexplored diversity of benthic environments in the northern Gulf of Mexico region. We expect to explore cold seeps, deep coral communities, undersea canyons, shipwrecks – perhaps even mud volcanos and brine pools.

Exploratory Approach

ROV Team Coordinator Dave Lovalvo and Science Team Lead Tim Shank discuss upcoming operations in the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Control Room. Click image for larger view and image credit.

From March to April 2012, a team of scientists and technicians both at-sea and on shore will conduct exploratory investigations on the diversity and distribution of deep-sea habitats and marine life in the northern Gulf of Mexico. We expect to have a live-internet connection to allow the world public to ‘join’ the team in making real-time discoveries from hundreds to thousands of meters below the ocean surface. The 56-day expedition is divided into three ‘legs’ and includes operations in 1) DeSoto, Mississippi, and Green Canyon areas; 2) areas in the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon site; and 3) the West Florida Escarpment.

Starting on March 03, scientists and technicians began mapping the seafloor using the multibeam sonar. From March 20, we will also explore seafloor habitats using the Institute for Exploration’s Little Hercules remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and the NOAA Seirios camera platform. The tentative schedule for the expedition is:

February 27 – Begin Leg I mapping transit from Charleston, South Carolina

March 03 – Start primary mapping operations in the Gulf of Mexico

March 14 – Conclude Leg I in Tampa, Florida; mobilize for Leg II

March 19 – Depart Tampa to begin Leg II

March 20 – First Leg II ROV dive

April 06 – Last Leg II ROV dive

April 07 – End Leg II in Pascagoula, Mississippi; Prepare for Leg III

April 11 – Depart Pascagoula to begin Leg III

April 12 – First Leg III ROV dive

April 28 – Last ROV dive of the expedition

April 29 - Ship arrives in Galveston, Texas; expedition ends

The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is one of the newest additions to the NOAA fleet and was commissioned in 2008. It provides accommodations for up to 46 crew and technicians. Unique to this ship, however, is that most of the scientists will remain ashore. Via telepresence, live images from the seafloor and other science data will flow over satellite and high-speed Internet pathways to scientists standing watches in Exploration Command Centers (ECCs).

During this expedition, a subset of core scientists will work from the Silver Spring ECC in Maryland, University of New Hampshire ECC, the Inner Space Center at the University of Rhode Island, and a newly established location at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. In just the last month, we also have confirmation of scientists working from a number of other remote locations like Baton Rouge, LA; Houston, TX; Austin, TX; Galveston TX; Ft. Pierce, FL; Philadelphia, PA; State College, PA; Woods Hole, MA; and even the Netherlands. These scientists, and others on call if a discovery is made at sea, will add their expertise in real-time to operations at sea.

One of the hallmarks of this expedition will be the high-definition video provided from the Little Hercules ROV and NOAA’s Seirios camera platform. When deployed from the Okeanos Explorer, “Little Herc” and Seirios will provide scientists and the audiences onshore with the very first video footage from many of the deepwater areas in the northern Gulf of Mexico. All expedition participants are anxious to see the spectacular habitats and marine life we’ll discover.

Education and Outreach

This expedition provides unique and extensive opportunities to educators, students, and the public, bringing expedition-based materials and experiences directly into classrooms and to their fingertips. Education products specifically tied to the expedition include this website with content essays, daily mission logs, and imagery; near real-time ship tracking features; and standards-based Expedition Educational Modules complete with lesson plans and ocean career connections.

Partners

External partners in this expedition include the Northern Gulf Institute, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, Florida Atlantic University, University of New Hampshire, University of Texas at Austin, Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, Naval Historical Society, C&C Technologies, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Tesla Offshore LLC, Geoscience Earth & Marine Services, College of Charleston, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, University of Rhode Island, and Joint Office for Science Support of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

NOAA organizations participating in this expedition include the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science/Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Coastal Data Development Center, and the NOAA Operational Systems Network. Additionally, OER also greatly appreciates the assistance of the Office of the Chief Information Officer.